Measurement of B(E2↑) for ³⁶Ca

In a pair of experiments, the B(E2; 2⁺₁→0⁺_g.s.) was measured for ³⁶Ca. The first experiment measured a cross section for the Coulomb excitation of a ³⁶Ca beam where only gamma decays were detected. The second experiment measured the branching ratio required as a correction to this cross section because the 2⁺₁ state of ³⁶Ca is above the proton separation energy. The measured B(E2) value significantly differs from that previously employed in an astrophysical calculation. This B(E2) is useful in x-ray burst simulations where ³⁴Ar sits at a waiting point which is sensitive to the ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca reaction rate.